3M Co. confirmed Friday that it has relocated some New Ulm plant operations to its Angleton, Texas facility in an effort to be closer to customers in the oil and gas industry.
Up to 35 of New Ulm's 600 workers were impacted by the move, but no one has lost their jobs, said 3M spokeswoman Jackie Berry. A few of the affected employees were allowed to relocate to 3M's Angleton plant. Others were able to find other jobs in the New Ulm plant, she said.
3M's Angleton plant in Texas is receiving $194,000 in expansion assistance from the state of Texas, according to a press release issued Thursday by Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
Separately 3M also announced this week that it will open a new plant in Nashville that will make healthcare and home care products.
Plant expansions inside the United States are a slight change from 3M's intense focus on overseas expansion in recent years.
3M workers in New Ulm first learned about the company's relocation plans back in 2009, Berry said.
At the time, the New Ulm workers who make anti-corrosion products for the oil and gas industry were told that changes would come in 12 to 18 months.
"This is consistent with our strategy for locating closer to where our customer are," Berry said. She noted that such efforts are a part of larger efficiency boosting goals set by 3M CEO George Buckley.
